East Metropolitan MLC Amber-Jade Sanderson and Bayswater Mayor Barry McKenna.
Camera IconEast Metropolitan MLC Amber-Jade Sanderson and Bayswater Mayor Barry McKenna. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

60 angry Noranda residents call for changes to Lightning Park section of NorthLink WA project

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

MORE than 60 angry Noranda residents gathered at Corderoy Reserve on Monday calling for changes to the traffic-congested Lightning Park section of the NorthLink WA project.

East Metropolitan MLC Amber-Jade Sanderson organised the community meeting attended by Bayswater Mayor Barry McKenna and councillor Alan Radford.

The State Government’s $1.12 billion NorthLink WA project was launched to provide a vital, state-of-the-art transport link between Morley and Muchea.

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Due to the Tonkin Highway upgrade where Benara Road will become a flyover across Tonkin Highway, access to Lightning Park from Tonkin Highway has been closed permanently since November 11.

Access into and out of Lightning Park is only available from the local road network.

Noranda resident Darryl Smith, who initiated a petition signed by 95 residents, said residents expected the access options would be “fair and equitable” where residents could share the traffic.

“That petition disagrees with the way that traffic is flowing at the moment meaning the traffic is going in both directions Cardwell Way, Maxwell Avenue, Matthews Close and Della Road because they are going through the roundabout in an illegal way,” he said.

“I have concerns that by not all residents coming on board with the original plan… we may lose the opportunity to resolve the traffic issue.”

Main Roads WA spokesman Dean Roberts said the access options to Lightning Park were a result of the consultation process.

“The (Lightning Park Access Working) group, together with Main Roads and the City of Bayswater, agreed to a number of changes to provide access and egress to Lightning Park,” he said.

“As these roads are under the care and control of the Local Government Authority, the City of Bayswater would be responsible for any further changes.

“The works associated with NorthLink WA in this area are expected for completion in early 2018.”

Possible changes that were proposed by residents at the meeting included a slip road, a roundabout on the corner of Maxwell Avenue and Matthews Close, a gate entry to Lightning Park and reverting to the original plan of one-way road conditions.

Ms Sanderson said the consultation process created “winners and losers”.

“The agreement with the community members on that group, (Bayswater) council and NorthLink, was that access to Lightning Park would be limited to one way in through Della Road, one way out down Matthews Close, Maxwell Avenue and Cardwell Way,” she said.

Ms Sanderson said changes could be possible and needed to be executed before the football season.

Cr McKenna said the City and its engineers were prepared to work with the community and convince Main Roads to produce the best outcome.

“The council has the authority to work out a solution for our local streets…if the City is in a position to and will be to assist the community, we will,” he said.